Is Airport Security Too Tight - Essay Example

Is Airport Security Too Tight? The airport security has become more stringent since the September 2001 terror attack. The easy security measures before the attack contributed to the success of the attack. The attackers managed to hijack a passenger plane and they checked into the airport without any suspicion. America had to do something to prevent any other attack. Check-in procedures are more elaborate and are take more time. Some people find these measures unnecessarily too strict. This opinion prompts one to think on whether the security check is too tight. In addition, one should pose to think if the security measures have benefits to the security of the American nation. Some people may feel that the measures invade too much into their privacy. However, it is worth noting that the intentions of the check are to ensure security of the traveler (Samantha). Most people think about the discomfort the check causes and forget that it is for their own good. In an era when the nation has been trying to respond to the war waged against them, security has to be more stringent. The attacker may take advantage of any loophole in the security system. Screening of passengers seeks to ensure that none of them has in possession any firearm or potentially destructive material. One of the check equipment is the metal detector that screens through the individual and produces a beep signal upon detection of a suspicious object. All personal luggage and cargo go through an x-ray screening system that screens through the bulk of the luggage. These measures did exist even before the attacks but they have only become more specific and elaborate. In addition, this is an era when some drug dealers have become too smart to disguise their illegal luggage. The security system has to tighten up to keep the situation under control. One of the reasons why the business has been booming is because in some areas of the world, security is not tight enough and drugs go in and out easily. To curb this, homeland security is justified to tighten security. It is evident that tight security is essential in airports for the safety of passengers and the nation at large. Probably, people should not complain about the stringency with which security comes but rather the real debate should seek to establish quicker and less cumbersome security equipment. What most Americans are complaining about is the hustling and queuing at the airports. This brings out the issue that security equipment used lack efficiency and is time consuming. In other cases, invasion of privacy is unavoidable because the equipment cannot screen effectively without this. What America needs are advanced equipment for security checks that are more efficient and time-saving and that allow the security officers to respect the privacy of the people. The transportation security administration has set up research projects that seek to establish innovative security devices that can save the people from the hassle. The security authorities realize that the hassle is probably too much to bear especially for women who apparently need more privacy. The research TSA is carrying out seeks to make use of technology and produce reliable security devices that will screen passengers and luggage effectively (Samantha). Research should target to reduce the time used in check-in procedure without compromising on the level of security. The public realizes that despite the hassle, there is a justification for it. Therefore, to make security procedures bearable, passengers should approach the procedure with a positive attitude. At least the hassle is easier to handle than the risk involved if security is not tight. As situations are, the stringency of the procedure will increase. Maybe, the specificity of detectors will increase so that privacy invasion reduces. The passengers should realize that security assurance is more important and should cooperate with security officers. Transportation security administration provides easy rules that can help the traveler in packing and that can make the check-in procedure easier (Crislips). Passengers can familiarize themselves with the rules and obeying them will make checking in for a flight an easier task both for the security officer and for the traveler. Ignorance of these simple rules is what makes an individual experience a real hassle at the security entrances. The passenger should not blame the security officer for being stringent because he is simply doing his work. Passengers must realize that security officers engross themselves in the details of this type of work all day for the safety of the passenger. Instead of grumbling, the people should be more patient. Even potential terrorists feign innocence and the security officers must ensure check-in is always uptight. Some people argue that the security check is not effective despite the hassle it causes. The people must realize that the transportation security administration tries its best to upgrade the security in airports. What they need is support from the citizens because condemnation will not improve the situation. People should realize that attaining efficiency in security is not a cheap task. Attacks usually come without a warning and the security officers cannot relent. The changing definition of the risk involved in air travel and an analysis of the potential threat has changed the picture in ensuring security at airports. Passengers must realize that security officers are working based on strategies established to curb any more attacks penetrating through the air space. The security check measures result from collaboration between different authorities that aim at preventing any attack. The collaboration between the transport ant national intelligence team is essential. In as much as airports want to remain courteous and friendly, security is an aspect any nation cannot underrate. The people must learn to cope with the stringent measures. In fact, everyone including the security officers wish something was different. Staying under the threat of terror attacks and keeping up with the tension associated with that is not a mean thing for any nation. America is justified to make the security checks more stringent. The aviation authority admits that there are challenges in ensuring the highest level of security (Powner and Rabkins 6). Different systems adopted to identify travelers are not easy to manage and this makes the job more tasking. However, the people can finally breathe because TSA is planning to alter security check for some travelers. The most trusted passengers will receive less stringent checks. These include pilots and other passengers who are willing to provide extra information about them before their travelling (Briggs). In addition, children under the age of twelve will receive less stringent checks. The security officers will rely on an intelligence system to determine which passengers deserve more screening than the rest. Other measures include employing unpredictable strategies to determine people who can pose potential threat. The intelligence unit is making advances in understanding human behavior so that they can identify passengers displaying suspicious behavioral traits. More intelligence measures will plunge into application that seek to guard the cockpit from any hijackers. It is important for the people to realize that in a short time in the future, as TSA promises check-in screening will invade less into their privacy. The modern check-in procedures will be faster more effective and considerably intuitive (Briggs). When the right systems come into use, the unnecessary removing of outer clothing, shoes, and belts will be thing of the past. The liquid rule may as well as pas away with time. All Americans should realize that all these is for their safety and be more patient with the current check-in procedure. According to Briggs, categorization of passengers will serve to reduce unnecessary measures on passengers who pose no potential risk. The focus of advanced search will be a preserve for passengers who pose a higher risk. Automated passports that provide information on travel history of an individual will serve to give some people an easier time on the check-in procedure. People with clean travelling records will no longer hassle at the airport. Scanning devices will be more specific for the search of harmful objects but not provide passenger images. Terror attacks have brought about all the hassle in the airport. The situation required stringent measures to prevent further attacks. The government had to act immediately and the TSA came into place. TSA has not made check-in at the airport easier but the hassle is for a worthy cause. Security is a priority in this case comfort can always come after. However, passengers who realize the essence of the stringent measures follow the TSA packing rules and cooperate with security officers have an easier time. It is great relief for many because the future holds something better for the airport check-in procedure. With the advancing technology, more effective devices and systems will end the hassle Work Cited Briggs, Bill. Airport security: You aint seen nothing yet.Web, 29, Feb. 2012. Crislip, Kathleen. Packing for Airport Security. Web, 29, Feb. 2012. Levine, Samantha. Can technology improve airport security while reducing the hassle for passengers? Web, 29, feb. 2012. Powner, David and Rabkin, Norman. Challenges Delay Implementation of Computer-Asissted Passenger Pre-screening System. Web, 29, Feb. 2012. Read More